Ceramic Tea Bowl with Brilliant Blue Glaze by Toshiko Takaezu

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A glazed ceramic tea bowl (chawan) circa 1960s made by Japanese American artist Toshiko Takaezu (American, 1922 - 2011), whose … Read more A glazed ceramic tea bowl (chawan) circa 1960s made by Japanese American artist Toshiko Takaezu (American, 1922 - 2011), whose work was heavily influenced by the Japanese ceramic tradition, aesthetics and philosophy. The hand-built bowl of slightly oval shape is covered with a brilliant cobalt blue glaze intermixed with patches of light brown on cream white background. The glaze pattern reflects the hallmark style by the artist with a free-flowing effect. The contrasting color interaction with each other with random infusion on both the interior and exterior. Prominent blue strokes were brushed horizontally across the exterior body, evoking an image of abstract ink painting. Inside the bowl, a curious crescent mark draws the eye. It might be intentional but mostly like a random effect as a result of the Wabi Sabi principle of how the artist worked with the glaze. There are also spots of areas where glaze skipped the surface, leaving white dots across. The Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi where perfection is achieved through imperfection is emphasized in this small bowl. The base is glazed and carved with the artist's insignia.
The artist used this particular shade of blue in a series of small pieces such as pots, bowls and plates around 1960s. This bowl was possibly made in that period. See plate 25, 37, 38 and fig 13 in the book "Toshiko Takaezu Worlds Within Noguchi Yale"
The bowl is a from a private collection in New York City. See less